Avoidance (RP)

The night plagued her with nightmares worse than any she'd had in several months.

Lounge night had been a disaster, at least for Kezrin.  First the warlock Riesstiu had shown up, and then to make matters worse, so had Trenetir Moradinel.

He was still fussing over his wedding invitations.  The insidious elf was still also insisting that all his AAMS business be conducted by herself and Koudo, when he perfectly well knew that they were the two people in the company who hated him the most.  Koudo, for he had broken her heart, and Kezrin, for she was the one who knew that Moradinel was blackmailing the AAMS.

True, Kezrin didn't know exactly what papers Moradinel had gotten his hands on, except they'd come from Ironforge.  The bossgnome had gotten herself in trouble with the Ironforge Guard, to the point where they had even issued an arrest warrant for Derscha.   She'd not wanted to risk it, and so had agreed to do his first job for free.

And then the second, and the third, and... she really should have known better.



She'd been sitting off by herself (refusing to be anywhere near the warlock despite his protestations that he was 'not a monster') and hoping Tat Awful Elf would leave her alone.  Telirra was there and could handle things.   Those hopes were dashed when he and his new female lackey approached her.

"Shall we discuss the invitations, then?" Moradinel asked, extending his left hand to Kezrin.

She eyes him warily, not sure if he were offering a hand shake or a hand up, but either way she wasn't touching him.  She did get ready to bolt, thankfully noticing Telirra coming over.  "Um.. they ready to be picked up?"

"You can come by tomorrow to pick up the updated invitations can't you?"

"Hopefully they'll be the release versions," she quipped.  Twice already he had insisted someone come to pick them up, only to change his mind on some minor detail after they'd arrived.

"Lavender and chamomile. They are simply beautiful," he assured.

"Yeah.  And... just the invitations?  Nothing else?"

He laughed.  "JUST the invitations? No, of course not. What sort of host would I be if I did not have tea with you?"

Yuuko, the female elf lackey,  snorted "Is there a problem if there is more?"

"Kezrin will not be available to pick up the invitations tomorrow," Telirra interjected into the conversation.  She moved to stand beside Kezrin, looking rather imposing for short elf.   Kezrin avoided sighing in relief at the rescue.

Moradinel cocked his head to one side and then looked down at Kezrin, "And why is that Miss Kanzelry?"

 She searched for a reason, suddenly remembering the notice that had come into the office just before she'd left.  "Jus' got a rush job in some some lady Alliance side ta deliver a bunch of stuff. Letters to various docs and whatnots."

Yuuko raised a hand to Moradinel.  "Does it matter? As long as it is taken care of things should be fine."  She looked down at Kezrin then back to Moradinel.  "Besides, if the little pistachio has something else to do, let her."

"Then I simply must insist that Miss Belore'alah be there. I will not trust a matter such as these invitations to simply anyone but only those whom I know are capable of seeing things through."

"She can't make it either," Telirra said.  "Shield business."

"My, my, my, you have an excuse for everything, don't you?"

Telirra wasn't moved.  "I am sure I can manage to pick up your invitations just fine on my own. Or do you have an objection to that?"

"Yes, I am certain that I do."

The new Shield Marshall just looked back at him.  Yuuko eyed Telirra in return. "Please tell me you are stronger then you look.  'Cause you look kinda scrawny from over here."

Telirra returned the favor.  "You don't need to be stronger than the other guy, just faster with a blade dipped in posion."

"Touche. I was merely talking about the weight."

Moradinel interrupted the verbal sparring.  "I am sorry, Miss Kanzelry, but given our past dealing and arrangements, I must insist that it is you or Miss Belore'alah. I cannot do business with this one."  He waved dismissively at Telirra.

Kezrin glanced around.  "How about Rom?" she offered, noticing Romchu watching them.  The newest Pandaren courier had come with her the last time she'd been to pick up invitations.

"No. She was shedding all over my estate the last time she was there. It was quite a mess for Yuuko to clean up."

 She sighed.  "Don't know when I'm going to have time," she said evasively, "but someone'll be there."

Please don't notice, please don't notice...

"I am not paying for someone.  I am paying for you."

She looked up sharply at those words, inwardly flinching.  "I am not -ugh!"  She hastily cut herself off, shaking her head.  She was a courier; people paid to have her show up, but to hear those words from him...

I am NOT for sale.  He wasn't even paying!

 "Koudo or me'll pick 'em up, happy?" she gave up.

Telirra flickered her eyes at Kezrin.

Moradinel smiled smugly.  "Yes, very much so. Thank you as always for your dedication to customer service."

"We can be there at four at the earliest," Telirra said.

"We?" Moradinel echoed.  "I think not.  You, Miss Highvale, are not invited."

"I wasn't giving you the option."

Kezrin cringed as Telirra tried to help.  More people were going to be dragged into her mess.

"Perhaps showing a little gratitude for receiving service at all would not be unwelcome, master blood elf." It was with some surprise when she heard someone else object to Moradinel's attitude.  "Or are you too high and mighty to appreciate that these people have better things to do than cater to your inflated sense of self-importance?

The warlock, Riesstiu, smiled coldly at Moradinel.

Moradinel replied. "I think you'll find that you are in the wrong."

Riesstiu did a poor job of repressing a laugh.

Telirra crossed her arms.  "I escort our couriers, or you find another delivery service."

"I am certain that Miss Belore'alah and Miss Kanzelry will be just fine," Moradinel insisted again.

Beside him, Yuuko began tapping a foot impatiantly.  "Why does it really matter?"

"Did I stutter?" Telirra questioned.  "I will be with them or they won't show up at all."

Kezrin shuffled to her feet, going to stand behind Telirra.   Moradinel laughed, though there seemed to be an odd quality to it, almost pained.

 "You will not be permitted, Miss Highvale. I am sure that I cannot tolerate your rudeness. Not when I am attempting to plan such a happy occasion."

"Then perhaps your servant there can handle the business herself, master blood elf, when she's not busy licking your boots or cleaning up pandaren sheddings."  Riesstiu snorted.  "Typical nobility. All the money and power in the world, and they can't buy manners."

"Then you can leave the invitations on the front step. I already gave you your options. It's my job to keep my people safe, not keep our customers happy."

Moradinel shot Kezrin a sharp look, all semblance of cooperation leaving his face.  "Is this what you would like?  Are you burning this bridge?"

Tell him yes, a voice whispered in her head.  Or has he really bought you?

"And uh... what would ya do about it?"  she asked nervously.

He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, looking down at her.  "Do you really want the answer to that question?"

Kezrin's eyes flickered over to Yuuko.  She already knew the types of thing Moradinel was capable of: blackmail, kidnapping, murder, slavery, beating people to near death just to send a message... all while pretending to be a polite business man...

How the fel did she get herself into these situations? 

Yuuko turned to Moradinel. "Ser, it may be prudent to take what you can get and not push for everything.  These invitations are important?  Let not this ruin your coming celebration."

He smirked at her. "There are times when you can take all because it is acceptable. Now is one of those times."

"As you wish."

 Telirra continued to stare at Moradinel.  "I am not asking to be invited for tea, I escort our couriers to you house, and escort them back. What you do is your business, but our time is valuable, Brae and I cannot afford to loose a courier to 'tea' for hours on end."

Kezrin scooted further behind Telirra to get out of his eyesight.   She absently tugged on her own sleeves, looking away.

Moradinel did not fail to notice.  "I shall speak with you later when you are more amiable, Miss Kanzelry."

"T-tomrrow, I guess," Kezrin said with resignation.  The first inklings of a plan were starting to form.

"Yes.  Tomorrow."

"So it's settled?" Yuuko asked.

"Yes, Yuuko, our business is concluded."

She smiled at him, the said with a lowered voice and a quick glance at Kezrin,  "She is such a cute little darling isn't she?  Do you think Jade and Sapphire would like to play with her?"

He gave another pained laugh, holding his chest.  "Perhaps in time."

The two left Hardwrench, Yuuko giving Riesstiu a long measuring look on their way out.  The warlock turned to Kezrin with a raised eyebrow.  "You deal with people like that, and yet I'm the one who evokes your disgust. You have strange priorities."

She glared at him, gritting her teeth to avoid saying anything.  He didn't know about how many nights she dreamed of imps chattering in her ear, unable to move, to do anything while having a warlock bind his curse to her.  Not knowing if he were going to kill her or steal her soul.  Only knowing that whenever he was done, she'd be unable to stop him from hurting her family, as well.

Then he sealed the memories away, but not perfectly.  She couldn't remember exactly what had happened, but the terror remained.  The vague, yet horrible nightmares of being bound and helpless.   The curse had been lifted, at the cost of a year's worth of memories, but that had only allowed the details of her ordeal to start resurfacing.


She'd never let another warlock come anywhere near her.  It was too painful.

"Hey, Tel... I'm leaving."

Telirra quirked a brow.  "Leaving...?"

"Y'know?" she quickly answered.  "Not staying here?"

 Riesstiu glared angrily at Kezrin, and somewhat sadly at Kezrin.  "Yes, run away, allow yourself to be bullied by scum like that, and yet glare at me when I have done nothing to you.  I pity you."  He turned away toward the sea.

She missed the odd expression in his face, resolutely not looking at him.

Telirra looked at her.  "Be safe, you know how to get a hold of me."

"Yeah... so,  bye."   Kezrin nodded one final farewell to Telirra and Romchu. 

 It really was time to leave.